Cosmic Bean Cafe

ShortOrder - A Guide To Dining

Here's a place where you almost expect poet Allen Ginsberg to perform ``Howl'' in front of an audience of black turtleneck beats sipping coffee.

The Cosmic Bean Cafe, on Farmington Avenue across from Cheese & Stuff, is a cozy new spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner and special evening events -- from poetry to jazz jams.

The ambience is early psychedelic. Swirling wall colors, comfy couches and hanging plants disguise the enormous venting system --left over from the building's earlier incarnation as a fried chicken joint. Orders made at a counter at the far end of the room are delivered to your table or chair or couch.

We tried the cosmic personal pizza, the flying saucer choice with mozzarella and mushroom. Pizzas come as Martian Pies with red sauce or Milkyway Pies with white sauce.

The soup of the day -- a creamy corn chowder the day we visited -- was hot and tasty. Sandwiches come in a traditional bread arrangement or a pita wrap. Choices include the Loco Pollo, grilled chicken with onions, field greens, tomatoes and swiss cheese with honey dijon mustard; and the Luna Tuna, house-made tuna salad with calamata olives, red onions, peppers, arugula and a basil pesto spread. There's a house salad, Greek salad and Caesar. You can add tuna, chicken or turkey to any salad for an additional charge.